How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

[whiteknight001]

I'm new here, and curious.

How many of us in Class C own Dodge B300 incomplete
cab/chassis based RV's? I know two others- Steve aka
Ripsaw, with a 1977 Brougham, and Leroy aka 1978_Dodge
_Delta who owns a 440V8 powered sharp looking 1978
Delta RV. I would like to ask, and offer, help, idea
swapping and comparing notes on our particular RV's
which are based on the Dodge B300 van chassis.

Yeah, I know. These are low tech, podgy old RV's that
would be considered "entry level" for folks like me,
but I have a deep and abiding respect for the quality
of these old "monsters of the open road". And anyone
wanting to pick brains, joke about, share notes or just
brag about our old A- Dodge-io's are certainly welcome
to PM or email me. Between all of us we can form a real
good support group, and help each other with problems
we know we'll encounter with an older vehicle.

Sure. I'd love a new RV. But I'd rather have an older
one already paid for, and a lotta great memories. Call
me frugal, an old hippie, or whatever you will. I'm proud
of my old land yacht.

Mopar Madness Manifest in the flesh,

Mark aka White Knight

P.S. Mine's a '72. Is there an older one out there someone's
motorvating in? Maybe even a Travco? W/K

[rehoppe]

IIRC the 413ci was used a lot in 'stationary' applications, such as irrigation pumps etc. ...

Might be a place to look, IF you need one.

[rehoppe]

Has anyone started to make 'aftermarket' heads for the 440?
Back in the 90s, a friend of mine had cracked heads on his. When he enquired as to new heads the parts people said the last 10k pairs had been sold to a high performance company to be sold to the racers.

The attraction was that they had water jackets in the heads, supposedly. The price for new or used heads was more than the MH was worth at the time.

We pulled the engine and tranny, and installed a 390ci ford motor and tranny.

[Phantom59]

A couple years ago on a nice flat stretch of highway I got my Dodge up to 90 which was pretty impressive considering it weighs over 13k with the trailer and it's just a little 360. I'm not sure what was louder all the stuff rattling or the wife hollering to slow down.

[Ballenxj]

Leeann wrote:

Ballenxj wrote:

But, I wanna hear about the "Tire Smoking episode." 🙂

That's all you get 😛

😞 😞 😞 And I really love good tire smoking stories. 😉

[Leeann]

Ballenxj wrote:

But, I wanna hear about the "Tire Smoking episode." 🙂

That's all you get 😛

[Ballenxj]

Leeann wrote:

Ballenxj wrote:

Leeann wrote:
I'll not talk 😉

Aaah, now you've really piqued my curiosity. 🙂

Hey, you drive a Jaguar 50 mph in a 65 mph zone, I'm gonna get ticked off. And with a 20' class A, fully empty - no water, no propane, only one gas tank with gas in it and no supplies - I'm gonna pass your butt. Going uphill without real mufflers and a 440 that has some oomph.


That's most of the story 😉

But, I wanna hear about the "Tire Smoking episode." 🙂

[Leeann]

Ballenxj wrote:

Leeann wrote:
I'll not talk 😉

Aaah, now you've really piqued my curiosity. 🙂

Hey, you drive a Jaguar 50 mph in a 65 mph zone, I'm gonna get ticked off. And with a 20' class A, fully empty - no water, no propane, only one gas tank with gas in it and no supplies - I'm gonna pass your butt. Going uphill without real mufflers and a 440 that has some oomph.


That's most of the story 😉

[Leeann]

Phantom59 wrote:
Top Gear did it with a bunch of motor homes a few years back

I bought that episode - it cracks my and my hubby up every time.

[Ballenxj]

Leeann wrote:
I'll not talk 😉

Aaah, now you've really piqued my curiosity. 🙂

[Phantom59]

Top Gear did it with a bunch of motor homes a few years back

[Leeann]

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:

Ballenxj wrote:
Have you ever seen two motorhomes drag racing?

Actually, yes. There was a youtube video of one such race, on a figure eight course, that I believe was held in Australia.

Also, there's a story about a couple of NASCAR drivers profiling their big, luxury Class A motorhomes around the track when the competitive spirit got the better of them. Supposedly, speeds topped 100 mph before officials got them to knock it off.

Finally, ask "Lead-Foot" Leeann about a certain tire-smoking episode ...

:W:W

I'll not talk 😉

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Ballenxj wrote:
Have you ever seen two motorhomes drag racing?

Actually, yes. There was a youtube video of one such race, on a figure eight course, that I believe was held in Australia.

Also, there's a story about a couple of NASCAR drivers profiling their big, luxury Class A motorhomes around the track when the competitive spirit got the better of them. Supposedly, speeds topped 100 mph before officials got them to knock it off.

Finally, ask "Lead-Foot" Leeann about a certain tire-smoking episode ...

[Ballenxj]

I tend to agree, the 413 just seemed like a stronger engine than the 440. I have had the opportunity to drive at least three. One was in a an older Chrysler 300 if memory serves. It had dual quads mounted via a cross ram manifold. It surprised me how fast it was. Another was in my older brothers 68 or 69 GTX. It too was wicked fast. Don't ask me why that engine was in there as I believe it should have been a 440.
Then there was the one in my Brave. I think it was 21 ft class A. Have you ever seen two motorhomes drag racing? Even though I won, they never got going fast enough to draw any attention as we let off as soon as we got to the speed limit.

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:

BTW - I actually have six (or seven ... or eight .. I lost count) motorhomes scattered around interior Alaska ... people keep giving them to me. (I only list the ones I've dragged home.)

Hehe. Having fun yet?

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Ballenxj wrote:
CONGRATS Griff! 😄
BTW, I notice you have a 413 in your Dodge M375 chassis. How do you like it? I had a 413 in an older Winnebago Brave and LOVED it. It ran so good that I thought surely this engine belongs in a race car. 😉

I love it!! I've only driven it 30 miles and haven't done anything to fix it up, other than to nurse it home. However, when I got it close to home, I decided to floor it while doing 50 mph and it tried to lift the front wheels off the ground.

In my opinion, shared by many others, the 413 was superior to the 440, both in a motorhome and a race car. That's why it's so hard to find them still in motorhomes. (The 1973 RM350 originally had a 440 but it'd been yanked for a race car when I received the chassis.)

BTW - I actually have six (or seven ... or eight .. I lost count) motorhomes scattered around interior Alaska ... people keep giving them to me. (I only list the ones I've dragged home.)

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Here's more 1973 RM350 parts to add to the rotors (above) and my previous list.

Note: These lists are accurate to the best of my ability. However, I am not responsible for errors and/or mistakes by myself or others. Please compare the new parts to your old parts to ensure they are the correct parts.

Outer Tie Rod End, p/n 401-1225, 1 ea
Outer Tie Rod End, p/n 401-1224, 1 ea

(One is for one side and the other for the other side ... I don't recall, and didn't note, which is which but they each won't fit in the wrong side ... unless you force them and cross-thread them.)

King Pin Set, p/n 530-1147, 1 ea

Neutral Safety Switch, p/n ECC 53-31500 (transmission part)
Neutral Safety Switch Pigtail, p/n ECC 57-4724, 1 ea

Front Inner Bearing, p/n 25590, 2 ea (one per side)
Front Inner Bearing Race, p/n 25520, 2 ea

Front Outer Bearing, p/n 14116. 2 ea (one per side)
Front Outer Bearing Race, p/n 14274, 2 ea

A727 Parking Brake Shield
A727 Parking Brake Support Spacer
A727 Parking Brake Cinch Clip
Note: The previous three parts are for a 1969 A727 transmission, with the driveline parking brake ... ordered off eBay from T-Flite Patty

Front Wheel Studs, p/n 610-072, 16 ea (eight per side)

Caster Shims, Dodge OEM # 2910993, 2 ea (for 1969 M300 chassis)